Also special is support for 'GPU Turbo' which reduces battery drain when playing supported games (technically it is a core level change to how the GPU handles the rendering of visuals) - Honor also is working on implementing GPU Turbo for EMUI visuals which should improve batteryperformance of the phone even during general use

Also enabled later via an OTA would be a feature called AI 4D Smart Shock to bring a new level of immersion for gamers - the feature will provide haptic feedback that is unique and customised to the games you play and the actions you execute within that game

Good selfie camera, especially in daylight conditions - selfies are rather pleasant and the colours, contrast and dynamic range are all within an acceptable range

Very good battery life - it will easily last a day and a half or more on moderate to heavy usage - and if Honor does truly end up implementing GPU Turbo for EMUI’s interface like they plan to, you can expect even better battery life over the course of time

Supports fast charging

On the whole, the Honor Play looks like a good choice at this price point - if you’re looking for a phone that’s all about great battery life, really good performance and great visuals, the Honor Play will suit your needs beautifully, as long as you don’t particularly care about having the very best imaging device as well

Absolutely stunning edge-to-edge screendesign - arguably one of the best designed Android phones ever - it's the kind of phone that you will recognise from 10 feet away

The bezel-less design means you get a 6-inch screen in a phone that’s the same size as the OnePlus 5, which has a 5.5-inch screen - making for a device that is a pleasure to use on a day-to-day basis

The Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 not only stuns with its screen, but with the way it looks and feels all around - the frame is metal with curved corners for better hand-feel and rigidity, while the back is a solid slab of beautiful ceramic

On the whole, this is high screen-to-body ratio executed very well

The fingerprint reader works reliably and is fast - its center-stage position on the back is also quite functional

MIUI on top of Android is clean, feature-filled, relatively secure, plus it has an excellent theme engine

Another positive with the MIUI ecosystem is that the software is constantly updated and refined

Also worth noting is that the phone has almost universal band support, which means that it’ll work with networks anywhere in the world

Good set of rear and front cameras - whether its colour, detail, sharpness or composure, the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 is competent (even though not exceptional), and takes good pictures that check all the basic boxes - in good light as well as low light

Decent audio quality via both headphones and speakers

Good battery life - you will consistently get a full work day of usage

Support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 means that battery recharging is also quick

On the whole, the Mi Mix 2 is a phone that catches your eye, it’s a phone that lets you enjoy the big screen experience without feeling like a big phone, it’s a phone that feels good in your hands, it’s a phone that stands out in a crowd, and has people stop to ask you questions - and it's also a sign of Xiaomi growing up to now compete (and compete well) in the flagship category too

2-minute Review [Negatives]

EMUI is not the most simple Android UI and can be cluttered at places

GPU Turbo support is currently limited to very few games

GPU Turbo is also not an exclusive feature - it will roll it out to existing phones like the Honor 10, Honor View 10, Honor 9 Lite and Honor 7X via a software update - so if you can afford the Honor View 10, it might be a better choice, since the Honor Play is basically a toned down version of the Honor View 10 (the View 10 especially has an edge with its cameras)

The rear dual camera setup does decently well in good light, but the low-light performance could have been significantly better - there are better-overall-camera phones around in this price bracket, including the likes of the Mi A2, the Redmi Note 5 Pro, and the Zenfone 5Z

The front camera position at the bottom right corner of the phone is awkward and will take time getting used to

There’s also no 3.5mm jack, so audio enthusiasts might be a bit disappointed, although you do get a 3.5mm-to-Type C adapter in the box

The displaylooks brilliant because of the bezel-less design, but is otherwise, in terms of quality, not anything special - both viewing angles, and brightness levels are a notch below Samsung/LG/Apple flagships

The cameras are good but nothing special - the rear camera lacks the dual camera setup for bokeh effects that's the flavour of the season among other flagships - as a result, you’ll find the camera app a bit bare-bones in terms of features - overall, it doesn’t quite have the capability of the top camera phones in this price bracket - the OnePlus 5 or Honor 8 Pro

Expert Reviews

If you’re looking for a phone that’s all about great battery life, really good performance and great visuals, the Honor Play will suit your needs beautifully, as long as you don’t particularly care about having the very best imaging device as well